The Enhancement of Citrus Value Chains Production in Pakistan and Australia

through Improved Orchard Management Practices

ASLP-II Citrus Project

HORT/2010/002

Dr. Muhammad Jafar Jaskani, Institute of Horticultural Sciences

University of Agriculture Faisalabad

Tauseef Tahir, Project Officer, Institute of Horticultural Sciences

Best Practice & Quality Payment System (Punjab)

Year: 2013-15

Initiative

• Field Day (February, 2013)

• Participants Citrus Growers from Citrus growing regions: 95

INTRODUCTIONAims

Increase farm gate returns to grower.• Produce more A grade quality fruit by improving crop management• Paid on volume of quality fruit

Locations

1. Village # 83SB Sargodha (Mr. Illyas warriach)

2. Village # 4 SB Bhalwal Sargodha (Mr. Hamad Ahmed Tarar)

3. Village # 91 SB Sargodha (Mr. Muhammad Zubair & Adeel)

4. Pest Scouting Consultant (Mr. Abdul Ghafoor)

Crop management improvements

Canopy Management

Frequent Irrigation

Fruit Thinning

Proper/ Regular Fertilization

Insect & disease IPM

Targeted sprays

Best Harvesting Techniques

Crop Management Practices at QPS Sites

Canopy Management & Regular Fertilization

• The canopy management plays a vital role in improving the quality

of the produce.

• The adoption of pruning at a proper time work wonders with the

overall health of the plant, which in turn maximizes the fruit quality.

• Regular fertilization is also required according to the Phenological

stages

Frequent Irrigation

• The most common method of irrigation in Pakistan is flood irrigation.

• Furrow irrigation can reduce the humidity under trees and reduce disease incidence.

• Frequent irrigation is required by the citrus orchard.

• HPIS has many limitation.

IPM/ PEST SCOUTING

• Involvement of pest scouting consultant to check the insect/ pest population and

remedies.

• Less insect pest infestation was observed in last couple of years.

• There is still opportunity to improve wind blemish/ diseases.

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Packing HousesPacking Sheds: 2

• Farhad Enterprises&

• Arshad & Co

QUALITY/ PAYBACK

Site I

Conventional Best Practice Site

Year % A Grade PKR ($) /ac % A Grade PKR ($) /ac

2014 37% 63,200 PKR 54% 91,125 PKR

2015 60% 72,000 PKR 72% 138,000 PKR

Site II

2014 29% 49,400 PKR 42% 71,355 PKR

2015 37% 72,300 PKR 67% 127,500 PKR

Site III

2015 19% 34,200 PKR 73% 131,250 PKR

Commercial outcomes

• Packers and contractors offered 20-25% more for best practice sites

• Quality payment price (paid on A,B,C grade) was 56% more

Healthy Orchard

Good Quality Fruit

33% more A Grade

More interest of Buyer

Quality based Payment

More quality export

OUTCOMES

More payback to farmer (income)

Capacity building of citrus industry

Farmer Field Days on Best Orchard Management Practices and Quality payment System

❑ Conducted/ participants: 91SB Sargodha (Participants: 48) 20-01-2015

83 SB Sargodha (Participants: 32) 24-01-2015

4 SB Bhalwal (Participants: 40) 26-01-2015